Post by krystal on Jun 2, 2017 15:39:50 GMT 7
Woman has heart attack DURING job centre meeting but too scared to leave as feared losing benefits
www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/woman-heart-attack-job-centre-meeting-scared-leave-feared-losing-benefits/21/05/
A grandmother suffered a heart attack during a job centre employment meeting and was too scared to get up and leave, for fear of losing her benefits.
Grandmother Salena Hannah, 50 was attending the Job Centre is Salisbury on 2nd May at 1pm.
She explained: “I had been suffering with chest pains for about two weeks and took a couple of sprays of GTN spray, to help with my angina, before I walked in to meet my interviewer.
My job is under 16 hours, at a chip shop, so I am forced to attend regular meetings, or my benefits might be stopped.
I was feeling some really bad pains in my chest and I told her at least two or three times that I was in agony, but she just kept ignoring me.
I said I needed to go to the NHS walk-in centre immediately, but it fell on deaf ears. I was living in fear of being sanctioned and just felt trapped. I didn’t think I could leave or I would have my benefits stopped.
I was sweating profusely and must have looked very ill. I was with my grandson, and he looked concerned, but she didn’t.
Eventually after 40 minutes she told me the interview was over and I went straight to the walk in centre in town and they immediately called an ambulance and I was taken to Salisbury district hospital.
They did some blood tests and told me I had suffered a heart attack, my first ever, and they inserted two stents into my arteries. I was kept in hospital for three days."
The DWP said: “We would always encourage claimants who suddenly fall ill to seek medical attention, or to speak to a member of staff for assistance.”